LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
In the rough and tumble world of Rugby League, Melbourne Storm's speedy winger, Xavier Coates, has encountered a minor setback after a grueling stint with the Australian national team at the 2024 Pacific Championships.
The dynamic athlete suffered a scare during training, causing a stir among the Storm faithful.
Video footage captured by The Sydney Morning Herald showed Coates being carted off the field in a medi-cab, receiving attention to his right ankle.
Despite the dramatic exit, reports indicate that the injury is nothing more than a bump in the road, with the medi-cab simply used for convenience in transporting him to the club's headquarters.
Club officials assured fans that Coates, a key player in the Storm lineup, would miss the upcoming NRL Pre-Season Challenge matches but should be fit and firing for their season opener against the Parramatta Eels on March 9.
Should he be sidelined, Sua Fa'alogo is poised to step up and fill the void in the lineup.
In a game where twists and turns are par for the course, the Melbourne Storm will be hoping their star winger can recover swiftly and hit the ground running when the season kicks off.
With the spirit of past Rugby League legends like Darren Lockyer and Wally Lewis guiding them, the Storm are confident that Coates will be back on the field in no time, ready to make his mark on the competition.